DALLAS – Pete Carr has been part of some major changes in rodeo over the last seven months.

Carr, the owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, expanded his firm with the acquisition of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo, purchasing the company from longtime friend Scotty Lovelace. He’s increased his herd of world-class bucking animals, his staff of rodeo professionals and the number of events he produces annually.

Now he’s been nominated for the 2013 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Stock Contractor of the Year.

“It’s been an amazing year for us, this is just another big plus,” Carr said. “The nomination means a lot to me, because I know how hard our staff has worked this year. This is great recognition for them.”

It also is recognition for the amazing animal athletes that wear the Carr brands, 31 of which were selected to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, three of which have been voted as Bareback Horses of the Year: Real Deal in 2005, Big Tex in 2010 and MGM Deuces Night last year.

“We’ve been real fortunate to have some great horses over the years,” Carr said, noting that River Boat Annie was the 2007 Reserve World Champion Bareback Horse, and Dirty Jacket was the runner-up Reserve World Champion as well as the Texas Circuit Bareback Horse of the Year in 2012. “We’ve had some great success with our bull herd this year, too.”

Still, it’s more than bucking animals that make a rodeo. Carr prides his companies on top-level production and working with the best in the sport. In fact, several other contractors who work Carr rodeos also received nominations in their chosen awards:

Clown of the Year: Lecile Harris
Announcer of the Year: Andy Stewart, Boyd Polhamus and Mike Mathis
Comedy Act of the Year: Lecile Harris, John Harris, Mark Swingler and Cody Sosebee
Clown of the Year: John Harrison and Cody Sosebee
Bullfighter of the Year: Travis Adams, Kelby Pearah and Kenny Bergeron
Small Rodeo of the Year: Crosby (Texas) Fair and Rodeo
Medium Rodeo of the Year: Crossett (Ark.) Riding Club PRCA Rodeo
Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year: Lea County (N.M.) Fair and Rodeo

“When you have the opportunity to work with the very best, it definitely makes you want to step up your game,” Carr said. “It’s because of those professionals that we’ve been able to do that.”